Author Topic: Crane Cams V8 StockCar Crowns three New Champs and One Old  (Read 2868 times)

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Crane Cams V8 StockCar Crowns three New Champs and One Old
« on: November 13, 2013, 05:35:11 PM »
The Crane Cams V8 StockCar Series crowned three first time champions and one old hat at the American Road Race of Champions at Road Atlanta.
The "old hat" of course would be Kentucky's Randy Walker in V8 GTA who had came in with 144 points and no one close enough at Road Atlanta to endanger his chances of a third championship. It was a good thing, as Walker had something break in qualifying in the front end of his racer and the car darted hard left into the wall at 10 A. The resultant damage sent Walker searching the paddock for parts for his wounded Camaro. Walker found the needed parts and made repairs, but quickly found in the morning practice session that the car was still not right and withdrew from the race. Not to worry, Walker's sterling performance during the season ensured his third Champions ring.

In the Porterfield Enterprises V8 GT-1 class, young Dillon Machavern took up where his dad, four time Champion and the winningest driver in V8 Series history left off. Dillon won six races in six starts garnering 144 points going into the ARRC. With second place Ray Webb sitting at 107 points and unable to make the race, Dillon was home safe. The Riggins Engineering built Falcon that propelled Dillon to the championship was sold just before the event, however another Riggins built car was available if needed.

In the Bemco Fabrication V8 GT-2 class, North Carolina's Randy Kinsland needed only to start the race to win his first ring, with second place racer Russ Snow unable to make the race. Kinsland compiled five wins and one second in six starts to pick up his first title. Kinsland, driving another of the well prepared CrossRoads Motorsports Corvettes was tough to beat on any track. CrossRoads Motorsports' Sam Power is the only crew chief the V8 GT-2 class has known as he also prepared the title winning cars of Bob Mayer (3 titles) and Nick Hazelwood (2012 champion).

The chase for the PitBoxes.com V8 SPO should be known as "Tads Excellent Adventure," as the Hilton Head Island racer is adept at providing drama to the class. Tad lost the motor during qualifying in his Kimrey Racing Monte Carlo and had to go to his back up car. The back up ride would not have even been at Road Atlanta if Segar's sponsor Kimrey Pennington had not insisted on leaving nothing to chance.

Qualifying for the ARRC race found found Mike Skeen in the Monette Racing Group Corvette taking the overall and V8 GT-1 pole (1:22.974) over Nick Hazelwood in the Hammer-Magnum Corvette. Simon Gregg was third overall in his Derhaag Motorsports prepped Corvette. Randy Kisland grabbed the top spot in V8 GT-2 followed by Jerry Onks and Adam Andretti. Randy Walker, Bob Davis and Butch Kummer were the top three in V8 GTA. Walker as mentioned earlier damaged the car during the session and would not make the race. Jeff Hinkle put his ex Kurt Busch ride on the V8 SPO pole followed by ARCA competitor AJ Henriksen and Harry Hinkle.

When the green dropped, Skeen, the veteran of Grand Am, World Challenge and Trans Am immediately jumped out to a lead, followed by Hazelwood and Gregg. Before the race was a lap old it was black flagged as an ITO Camaro running at the back caught on fire. The race was stopped for fifteen minutes or more as track crews cleaned up the mess. The race would now be a timed event rather than a set number of laps. At the restart, Skeen again drove away while Hazelwood and Gregg battled.
Gregg slipped by Hazelwood, but could not shake the sixteen year old from his bumper. On lap four, under braking into turn ten, Hazelwood punted Gregg into the "sand trap." Hazelwood stalled, but would restart his car and continue. A full course caution ensued and Gregg, the 2012 Crane Cams V8 StockCar and Trans Am Champ was done for the day.

Adam Andretti, son of Aldo and nephew of Mario, slipped by Kinsland for the V8 GT-2 lead. Andretti was driving TA-2 type Camaro that he sometimes uses in Trans Am competition. Bob Davis was out front in V8 GTA but Butch Kummer was never more than about a second back in his BK Racing Monte Carlo.

In V8 SPO, Jeff Hinkle was having it all his way with no serious challenge. Harry Hinkle was running second in the class with Segars motoring along at the back just trying to get a finish and a championship.

The Checker flew on lap 13 due to time constraints as a result of the earlier mayhem. Mike Skeen was first across the stripe with an overall and V8 GT-1 win and a new V8 series track record in the process. Skeen's 1:21.131 eclipsed Simon Gregg's standard from 2011. Joe Freda was second overall and second in V8 GT-1 in his very cool "resto mod" 1971 Camaro. Third overall was Andretti in the GT-2 Camaro, followed by Richard Bridgette in the GT-1 Mustang he built himself. Kinsland was next in his Crossroads Motorsports Corvette with V8 SPO winner Jeff Hinkle about one second back.

In V8 GTA, Bob Davis crossed the stripe first but was moved to the last finishing spot in the class due to "non-compliant" tires on the car.
As a result, Butch Kummer picked up the class win, with Andrew Trought second in his first start with the series and first time at Road Atlanta. Andrew Rains nabbed the final spot on the podium.

The V8 Series congratulates our ARRC class winners:

Porterfield Enterprises V8 GT-1: Mike Skeen Monette Racing Group Corvette
Bemco Fabrication V8 GT-2: Adam Andretti, Engineered Components Camaro
Pitboxes.com V8 SPO: Jeff Hinkle: Hinkle Racing Dodge
Howe Racing V8 GTA: Butch Kummer, BK Racing Monte Carlo

In addition we congratulate our 2013 class Champions:

Porterfield Enterprises V8 GT-1: Dillon Machavern Heritage Motorsports Ford Falcon
Bemco Fabrication: V8 GT-2 Randy Kinsland CrossRoads Motorsports Corvette
PitBoxes.com V8 SPO: Tad Segars, Kimrey Racing Monte Carlo
Howe Racing V8 GTA: Randy Walker, Walker Properties Camaro

The V8 Series wishes to thank the Atlanta Region, the ARRC committe and all the workers for their efforts in putting on another outstanding event.

The V8 Series also thanks its' partners for 2013 and they are:

Crane Cams, SCCA, Central Florida Region SCCA, Porterfield Enterprises, Bemco Fabrication, Howe Racing, PitBoxes.com, GoPro, RaceTalkRadio.com, Sunoco, Hoosier, Goodyear, FiveStar, RaceCar Engineering, RacingJunk.com, Roehrig-Enders, GrassRoots Motorsports Magazine, SafeRacer and Roush Yates Performance Parts.
Chris Gill
Zoo Crew Racing